Chapter 121: The Strongest Scientist - Kurotsuchi Mayuri
"Impossible?"
"What do you mean by that, Captain Kurotsuchi!"
With Byakuya's naturally reserved character, even when he defeats an enemy, he isn't the type of person who likes to boast about it. But he had accomplished this victory himself, and now he was being openly questioned by a fellow captain.
Even for someone as composed as him, it was inevitable that a trace of anger would rise in his heart at such doubt.
"Please don't get excited, Captain Kuchiki!"
Unohana Retsu quickly stepped between the two men to prevent them from coming to blows over this disagreement.
At this moment, her usually gentle expression showed rare sternness as she turned to look directly at Byakuya Kuchiki. "Captain Kuchiki, it's not that Captain Kurotsuchi is questioning your abilities. This matter is truly of critical importance!"
"It's even... more critical than Aizen's planned invasion of the real world!"
"More critical than Aizen's attack on Karakura Town?"
"How is that possible..."
At this moment, Byakuya Kuchiki showed a hint of genuine emotion on his usually stoic face, speaking with clear doubt in his voice.
Seeing that Byakuya Kuchiki's tone had softened somewhat, Unohana Retsu relaxed slightly. After all, she knew very well how proud these noble Shinigami from the four great families could be when their honor was challenged.
"Please be patient, Captain Kuchiki. Let me ask you this: if someone more dangerous than Captain Yamamoto were to appear, do you think he would be more threatening than Aizen Sosuke?"
As soon as Unohana Retsu finished speaking, Renji beside them said impatiently: "That's impossible!"
"Captain Yamamoto is the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society for over a thousand years!"
"Even if it's Aizen, he wouldn't be the old man's opponent! How could..."
Seeing Renji's agitated outburst, Byakuya Kuchiki spoke sharply: "Silence, Renji!"
Then he looked at Unohana Retsu and nodded slightly with proper respect. "My apologies for my lieutenant's rudeness!"
"Please continue, Captain Unohana!"
"Sorry, Captain Unohana!"
Seeing his captain apologize for his inappropriate words, Renji also bowed twice as a gesture of respect.
Not bothered by being interrupted by the captain and lieutenant of the Sixth Division, Unohana Retsu continued: "You witnessed the heavy snowfall in Hueco Mundo before arriving here, correct?"
"The heavy snow? Now that you mention it, I was puzzled by that phenomenon!"
"According to Soul Society's intelligence reports, Hueco Mundo should be perpetually dark with only yellow sand and howling winds. I've never heard of Hueco Mundo experiencing such massive snowfall."
"Are you suggesting that... this wasn't a natural climate event, but artificially created?"
It wasn't difficult to judge what Unohana wanted to express from her tone, so Byakuya Kuchiki said thoughtfully: "As far as I know, the only Zanpakuto that can affect an entire realm's weather and possesses ice-based attributes is Hyorinmaru."
"But isn't Captain Hitsugaya currently guarding Karakura Town?"
"What if I told you it was accomplished by an Arrancar, and that same Arrancar decisively defeated me when I went all out, along with both Captain Zaraki and Captain Kurotsuchi?"
Seeing that she had laid sufficient groundwork, Unohana Retsu directly revealed the crucial information.
At this moment, Byakuya Kuchiki was finally truly moved. Others might not understand, and even many captains over a century old didn't fully comprehend it, but as a member of one of the four noble houses, how could he not know the true strength of Unohana Retsu when she fought seriously?
"Even you... were defeated?"
At this point, Byakuya Kuchiki unconsciously adopted a more respectful tone. The kind-faced woman before him wasn't simply the captain of the Fourth Division's medical support team.
She was the warrior who, thousands of years ago, had fought alongside Captain Yamamoto to defeat the Quincy forces, helped seal Yhwach, and served as the first captain of the Eleventh Division. She was from the same era as those who had been promoted to the Royal Guard.
Known as the greatest villain in Soul Society's history, she was also its most deadly combatant.
"Are you saying, Captain Unohana, that you were defeated by that Arrancar in direct combat?"
Hearing that Byakuya Kuchiki's tone still carried some disbelief, Unohana Retsu spoke again to confirm this reality.
"That's correct. We survived only because our opponent chose not to kill us, which allowed us to reach this location safely."
"So when Captain Kurotsuchi heard that you had defeated this enemy single-handedly, his skepticism was entirely reasonable."
After listening to Unohana's explanation, Byakuya Kuchiki fell into brief contemplation, then responded quietly: "But... his Reiatsu has completely disappeared. I can be certain of that!"
The standard practice among Shinigami in combat was to determine victory or defeat based on the presence and strength of spiritual pressure. This method had been used for countless years, which was why they would suffer so many casualties when facing the Quincy later.
"Hmph, spiritual pressure?"
"When did you develop the illusion that our opponent was even using Reiatsu, Byakuya Kuchiki!"
At this moment, Kurotsuchi Mayuri retrieved a device with a screen from his chest pocket, lightly pressed a button on it, and soon the display showed all present Shinigami and Inoue Orihime as expected.
But originally, above the throne in the area of the crystal zenith, there were actually two green light spots flashing on the screen.
"So you see..."
"Reiatsu detection is completely unreliable in this case!"
"Nemu! Deploy that device!"
Suddenly, Kurotsuchi Mayuri shouted to his lieutenant beside him, though no one else understood what was happening.
"Understood, Master Kurotsuchi Mayuri!"
At that moment, Nemu Kurotsuchi retrieved a pitch-black spherical device from her uniform and quickly activated it. Fine powder from the sphere rapidly dispersed and permeated throughout the entire hall.
The powder carried a distinctive, choking smell that made everyone present cough violently.
"Cough cough cough cough!!"
"Captain Kurotsuchi, what are you doing? This is so uncomfortable!"
Rukia complained with a pained expression while coughing continuously.
But Unohana and her group maintained calm, serious expressions while looking toward the throne area, appearing ready for immediate action.
"What's happening?"
"Hmph, you'll understand very soon!"
"Zaraki Kenpachi, it's your turn now. Don't lose again this time!"
At this point, Kurotsuchi Mayuri addressed Zaraki who stood nearby.
"Tch! You don't need to tell me that. If our opponent's abilities weren't so bizarre, there's no way we'd lose!"
After speaking, Zaraki Kenpachi yanked off his eye patch, and the golden Reiatsu within his body exploded outward, surging directly toward the ceiling. Just as Byakuya and his group remained thoroughly confused by these developments.
Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly leaped upward and jumped toward the top of the throne area, gripping his Zanpakuto tightly with both hands and slashing downward with tremendous force.
BOOM!!
An explosive sound rang through the air, and thick smoke filled the area. Zaraki Kenpachi jumped down from within the smoke cloud, sliding dozens of steps along the ground before barely managing to stop his momentum.
"Heh, are you finally willing to show yourself, Fiander Moros!"
As the smoke gradually dissipated, Fiander sat cross-legged in mid-air with his upper body exposed, looking down at the group below with obvious interest and amusement.
"How curious. How exactly did you manage to find me?"
"Did you use that strange instrument? It's truly worthy of your reputation, Captain Kurotsuchi. I've always held great admiration for your work. Would you be interested in joining me?"
"I could provide you with complete freedom in research and development. What do you think of that offer?"
Kurotsuchi Mayuri remained completely unmoved by Fiander's tempting words, smiling coldly as he replied: "You managed to deceive our Captain Kuchiki for quite some time. He actually believed he had killed you and was feeling rather pleased with himself."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri's comment made Byakuya Kuchiki visibly uncomfortable, then he continued: "Also, I have no interest in Hueco Mundo's research capabilities. After all, in my professional opinion, you're far too primitive and limited."
The defiant Kurotsuchi Mayuri pressed on: "Are you wondering how we managed to locate you?"
"You assumed we couldn't do anything about you without detecting even a trace of Reiatsu?"
At this moment, Kurotsuchi Mayuri held up his device with a triumphant smile and explained: "I call this invention a bio-detector. It was originally designed to help capture weak creatures with minimal Reiatsu signatures, but I never expected it would prove useful in this situation."
"Its function is to display nearby units with detectable life signs. Presumably, even someone like you cannot completely suppress all vital biological indicators?"
"Furthermore, as of right now, your abilities have been completely sealed by my technique!"
"Kehehehehe!!"
At this moment, Kurotsuchi Mayuri laughed with such overwhelming arrogance that the entire hall echoed with his sinister, triumphant laughter.
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